In utero intervention

Tony Blair said teenage mothers could be forced to accept state help even before their children were born as part of a clampdown on anti—social behaviour.

"If we are not prepared to predict and intervene far more early then there are children that are going to grow up in families that we know perfectly well are completely dysfunctional," he said.

"The kids a few years down the line are going to be a menace to society and actually a threat to themselves."

For decades, social work bureaucracies have used the term "at risk" to describe individuals in situations which produce disproportionate numbers of pathological behaviors. Now, it seems, this label is to be applied to fetuses. Nothing like starting out life labeled as a problem child.

Mr Blair gave the example of a teenage mother who was unmarried and not in a stable relationship.

He said the state could say to her: "Here is the support we are prepared to offer you, but we do need to keep a careful watch on you and how your situation is developing.

"Because all the indicators are that your type of situation can lead to problems in the future."

Tony Blair said teenage mothers could be forced to accept state help even before their children were born as part of a clampdown on anti—social behaviour.

"If we are not prepared to predict and intervene far more early then there are children that are going to grow up in families that we know perfectly well are completely dysfunctional," he said.

"The kids a few years down the line are going to be a menace to society and actually a threat to themselves."

For decades, social work bureaucracies have used the term "at risk" to describe individuals in situations which produce disproportionate numbers of pathological behaviors. Now, it seems, this label is to be applied to fetuses. Nothing like starting out life labeled as a problem child.

Mr Blair gave the example of a teenage mother who was unmarried and not in a stable relationship.

He said the state could say to her: "Here is the support we are prepared to offer you, but we do need to keep a careful watch on you and how your situation is developing.

"Because all the indicators are that your type of situation can lead to problems in the future."